Archive '05 will be a retrospective competition... open to works created at any point during the STA's 77-year history. The only criteria are design integrity and a Chicago foundation.

This was the opening statement for the inaugural Archive '05 Call For Entries - the first in a series of annual juried shows open exclusively to the Chicago design community.

The purpose of the annual Archive competition is to add to the already substantial legacy of design in Chicago; to promote Chicago's vibrant design community; to recognize the influence of design excellence on business; and, to make the collection available to the global community of students, designers and historians online through the Chicago Design Archive.

TheSTA was established in 1927, and carries with it a rich tradition of Chicago design works and fellowship. Today's STA builds on this social and professional heritage through programming, our annual "Do It Yourself" conference, thought-provoking events, creative road trips, and now, through the Archive competition.